Blade Steels..... Does It Really Matter?

[JD Spydo]

It's always been extremely interesting to see the wide range of different properties that many of these premium blades steels have. It's also interesting to see how far technology has gone in the fields of metallurgy and ceramics. What has been accomplished in both fields has truly been mind boggling.

In the past 10 to 15 years we've had the privilege to witness the greatest change in the quality of steel production and metallurgical advances like never before. Not only for cutlery steel but for all kinds of steel i.e. for aviation, tool & die, newer tool steels, and even better structural steels as well. It's been a very interesting time to be in this hobby. With all that said I love the newer selections of blade steels and marvel at the profound differences.

And yes!! is my answer>> so far I've found M390 to be the best overall everyday use blade steel that I've had the privilege of using. Very interesting thread too.

[Freediver]

I wouldn’t go diving with carbon steel.

I know you agree with me that you would love to see Spyderco make a new or a sprint run of the Caspian Salt, perhaps with Lc200N stainless steel.

Can you as an experienced and seasoned diver imagine going diving with say a Pacific Salt shaped folder made with ZDP 189?

Infact, Lance and Freediver: How long would you both estimate a blade (fixed or folding) of ZDP 189 steel would last doing the water based activities you are both familiar with? Would it develop a rust patina almost instantly and then over days or weeks corrode away to powder?

I love my Caspian, in fact I keep it attached to
My SCUBA BC. ZDP 189 would probably develope surface rust/patina very quickly after being exposed to salt water. You would have to wash it with fresh water/flush it with air and oil it well immediately after. I’m not sure how long it would take to corrode away to powder haha.

[dreadpirate]

To the user or the collector? Clearly it does to the collector.

[dreadpirate]

I agree with this. And yeah, those cars in northern cities (where the roads are constantly salted to melt the ice) seem have it worse than coastal cities and beach towns!

We used to call it "Yankee termites".